Posted on 03/29/2011 7:12:42 PM PDT by Nachum
An Emergency Labor Meeting was held in Cleveland, Ohio on March 4-5, 2011.
Ninety-six union leaders and activists from 26 states and from "a broad cross-section of the labor movement" gathered at the Laborers Local 310 Hall in Cleveland in response to an invitation sent out in January urging them to “explore together what we can do to mount a more militant and robust fight-back campaign to defend the interests of working people.”
Three weeks prior to the Emergency Labor Meeting (ELM), "unionists and community and student activists in Wisconsin unleashed a resistance movement against Governor Scott Walker’s union-busting and concessionary attacks that in a short time has breathed new life into the labor movement".
Participants in the ELM took "full note of the new situation and of the grave dangers to the U.S. labor movement and to workers’ and democratic rights posed by Governor Walker’s attacks".
They pledged to make the "fight against union-busting and the budget cuts/concessions in Wisconsin the centerpiece of an emergency action plan..."
Part of the plan involves a nationwide "Day of Action" on April 4.
Participants welcomed the call issued by Larry Cohen, International President of the Communication Workers of America to organize on April 4, the anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This call has since been supported by the AFL-CIO Executive Board, which is urging "movement-wide dramatic actions" on this day.
The closed doors meeting was endorsed by some of American labor's most radical socialist labor leaders.
These included Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism affiliates;
Donna DeWitt, President, South Carolina AFL-CIO Sandy Eaton, RN; Chair, National Nurses United Legislative Council Lenny Potash, Co-Chair Labor United for Universal Healthcare Kenneth Riley, President, International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1422 Monadel Herzallah, President, Arab American Union Members Council – USLAW-affiliate Steve Edwards, President, AFSCME Local 2858, Chicago, and Steering Committee member, Public Workers Unite! Ira Grupper, labor journalist, Louisville, KY
Democratic Socialists of America affiliates;
Jos Williams, President, Washington Metro Council AFL-CIO Henry Nicholas, President, National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, AFSCME Jeff Crosby, President, North Shore Labor Council, Massachusetts Bill Henning, Vice President, CWA Local 1180 Ed Sadlowski, Staff Representative, Wisconsin Council 40, AFSCME, AFL-CIO; Member, Local 938; membership in Council 40 Field and Support Staff Union Jerry Tucker, former Intl UAW Exec Board Member; Center for Labor Renewal Co-Founder Bill Fletcher, Jr., Center for Labor Renewal; BlackCommentator.com Dr. Jack Rasmus, Member, American Federation of Teachers University Council, University of California Berkley; Former National First Vice President, National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981; former local union Vice President and Business Representative, CWA Local 9415 and SEIU Local 715 Bill Leumer, Former President, International Association of Machinists Local 565; Co-Convenor, Workers Emergency Recovery Campaign Steve Early, labor journalist, lawyer, and former CWA International Representative; author of Embedded with Organized Labor and The Civil Wars in U.S. Labor
Communist Party USA affiliates;
Lew Moye, President, St Louis Chapter, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Dean Gunderson, Minnesota Association of Professional Employees Region 5 Director and past local president.
Also listed were affiliates of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Socialist Party USA, International Socialist Organization and several members of the ultra radical anti Israel group American Labor for Palestine.
The assembled socialists agreed that they must;
Go to the streets to oppose the concessions demanded by the bosses and the government. There is plenty of money available without demanding givebacks from public employees, but this requires changing our nation's priorities to raise taxes on the rich, redirect war dollars to meet human needs, and more -- all demands that we must place on the federal government. We can no longer effectively deal with such crucial issues as health care and retirement through collective bargaining alone.
Instead of supporting wars of intervention, the labor movement should embrace international worker solidarity. The mutual declarations of support between protesters in Madison and insurgent independent unions in Egypt are a proud example that deserve wide emulation.
The U.S labor movement is now completely dominated by socialists and communists. Given the chance they intend to bring chaos to several major cities across America. They plan to continue, until their man Barack Obama is re-elected President in 2012.
"Plenty of Money" That is the new mantra that Stephen Lerner planned...
what percentage of the population are they? will they resort to violence or will Unions hire thugs to do their dirty work.
what percentage of the population are they? will they resort to violence or will Unions hire thugs to do their dirty work.
The unions, I believe, are 10 or 11% of the workforce. Violence? The union leadership certainly hopes so. The question is, how will the public respond.
Which working people would those be?
How about the ones who pay taxes, and make about half of what the union people do?
I like your way of thinking. Down and dirty.
Wasn't somebody planning a "National target shoot" on that day?
Forget where I read that...
Libs can't get elected in this country without the spoils. Union dues are funneled to Dems as political campaign contributions (Can you say 'kickbacks'?). Union officials fight tooth and nail against 'paycheck protection' laws that give members a choice about how their money is spent.
Study that man like he's your canvas and paint. Then get busy painting. It's not a pretty process, but when right and reason are not in the playbook of your enemy you are given no other choices.
More like line their own pockets.
Just how much in labor union dues do employees have to pay, on average? Just askin'.
Oh, I brought me club to the protest
I packed me gun too
Oh, I brought a knife, to the protest
To show the boss who’s who
Thar’s plenty of money for my paycheck
Plenty of money for you
Thar’s plenty of money the company’s coffers
Pay up! Or you’ll get wat’s comin’ to you
We’ll shut your business down
We close the doors of the bank
We’ll ruin your big bottom line
And the company sales ‘ll tank
The Union boss gave me lunch
He bussed all of us in
The Union boss pays minimum wage
While he’s in a bar and drinks gin
Thars’ plenty O’ money for the Union Boss
Plenty of money for him
Plenty of money for the union boss
While the rank and file get thin
The cops showed up to keep the line
The poor folk spit on the ground
They got no lunch from the union boss
They ain’t had money around
We’re screamin thars pleny O money
We’re demandin’ that they pay
The poor folk lost their houses
And had to move away...
I already work on an average week between 80-90. I have a day job, and a business. How many hours more do I need to work per week before I am considered a “working american”...or can you only be considered “working” if you have no skills people are willing to pay for?
Here's a revolutionary, militant idea Fat-@$$ed union bosses. Urge your socialist demokrat buddies in Congress to stop stealing from your members' grandchildren and tell them to stop borrowing from our communist enemies in China.
Thanks Nachum.
>>Find a man’s fuel for his vices and you own his future.<<
Going on 45 years since I heard that piece of truth.
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